Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-03-25
FORNlNST THE LAW.
RAlLR0ADBRS PROTEST AGAINST THE IN
TBR-STATB C0NNRRCBLAW.
The Gloomy Prediction Of Commissioner Piuk-Ouss-
hons That Disturb the Serenity Of Wall
Srest-SsnatOr Vest Interviewed
on the New Measure.

NEW YORK, March 24.-In regard to
the Interstate Commerce bill, these are the
questions that agitate Wall street:
Will the operation of the bill affect bus
iness?
Will the products of any section of the
country be barred out of any other sec
tiOns?
Will the bill result in great railway con-
solicitations?
The following interviews on the above
queries make very interesting reading:
What will the Interstate Commerce
bill dO?" said Railway Commissioner Fink
to-day. Among other things it will ruin
great many railways, many branches of
industry and many manufacturers who
have thrived on competing rates.
The bill is not beneficial, them"
1T would be if properly constructed.
Some sections Of it are admirable, but the
greater portion of the bill is such as you
might expect from men ignorant of what
they are doing, They are impracticable,
impossible, deplorable sections"
What do you think of the claim now
made that the bill was originated and en-.
gineered by the railroads, which gave it
just enough opposition to prevent its de-
feat?'
Railroad men wanted such bill, but
not in its present form.
What is your opinion of its effect on
business?"
That it will either drive the producers
Of the far west to the wall or to the slow
export via. the lakes | think the through
lines will thrive on it, as they can make
rates to the detriment of their local traffic
without material injury to themselves, if
not to the ruinatiOn of shorter cOmpeti-
tors"
will it benefit the express companies?"
Certainly; if it is true they are not af
tected by it,
To CRUSH THE SMALL ROADS.
The opinion on the street is that several
great systems OF railways will consolidate
and make such tariffs as will crush all
lesser lines. 10 is that the the Pennsyl
yania and st. Paul systems, practically in
alliance now, will consolidate, and these
will consolidate with the Northern Pacific,
giving them u continental line
1t is rumOrsd that the Vanderbilt sys-
tenn will also be put under one manage
ment. II Is now known that the Balti-
more and Ohio deal il the first outcome of
the Interstate bill, and that the near
future will see vast systems consolidated.
The general opinion which the various
express companies have arrived at is that
they are not subject to the Interstate
Commerce bill, because they are not COM
mon carriers but forwarders.
WHAT EMPRESS OFFICIALS SAY.
Ex-senator Platt, President ofthe United
States Express Company, says: "We are
evidently not affected by the bill and eX-
pect to do the future carrying of live stock
and grain at rates lower th0n the freight
lines can handle it.
Mr.. John HOey, of the Adams Express
Company, says: 1--WE are agnOSticS on the
subject. That is, we don't know. We
have decided that the express companies
are exempt and can go on doing business
at the old stand. We don't know what
the bill is about; we don't know any one
who knows; we never expect to know, ana
we don't believe any one ever will know.
We are waiting the spectacle of the future
meetings OF the commission OF men who
know nothing about railway business, and
will look forward to their resolving on the
subject with "A pleasant smile"
SENATOR VEST DISGUSTED.
United States Senator Vest, of Missouri,
was seen at the Fifth Avenue Hotel.
What is your opinion of the Inter
State Commerce bill?' he was asked.
II decline to be interviewed on that
thing" he said. in disgust. Congress
felt that it must do something on the sub
ject and the bill was rushed through with
out the knowledge of what it all meant. y
Ii is understood that the various eX-
changes and shippers of New York are pre-
pairing for a general war against the exc
cution OF the bill and loud protests are be
ing made.